Medically reviewed by Jillian Foglesong Stabile MD, FAAFP, DABOM — Written by Kaylea Swearingen, PharmD
Key takeaways
Mounjaro does not directly cause vitamin deficiency. However, it can lead to vitamin deficiencies since it slows digestion and can be used with a reduced-calorie diet.
Because you are eating less and your body is processing food differently, you may be at a higher risk for deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron. Learn more about vitamins impacted and symptoms of deficiencies.
Mounjaro works by imitating the effects of hormones called incretins. Specifically, Mounjaro mimics incretins known as GIP and GLP-1 by activating certain receptors (binding sites) in the body. By activating these receptors, Mounjaro lowers fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels.
Mounjaro also slows the movement of food through your digestive tract. This can make you feel full for longer than usual. For helping to manage blood sugar levels, Mounjaro is used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
By reducing appetite and food intake, using Mounjaro may lead to lower consumption of essential nutrients like B vitamins (especially B12), vitamin D, iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. It may affect nutrient absorption due to slowed digestion.
Symptoms of vitamin deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin deficiency may depend on the vitamin. For example, fatigue may be a symptom of low iron or vitamin B12 levels, while muscle cramps may be a symptom of low magnesium levels.
Because Mounjaro can cause side effects similar to symptoms of vitamin deficiency, such as nausea and fatigue, it can be difficult to distinguish between the medication’s side effects and a genuine nutritional deficiency.
Check out examples of symptoms of vitamin deficiencies in the table below.
| Vitamin | Possible symptoms of deficiency |
|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | • tingling in hands and feet • fatigue • pale skin |
| Iron | • shortness of breath • fatigue |
| Vitamin D | • bone pain • mood changes |
| Magnesium | • insomnia • muscle cramps or twitches |
| Zinc | • diarrhea • impaired taste or smell • frequent infections |
| Calcium | • muscle cramps • numbness or tingling in the fingers, toes, or lips • seizures |
If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They may recommend lab tests to check your vitamin levels.
Takeaway
Mounjaro does not directly cause vitamin deficiency. However, because of how Mounjaro works in your body and the changes you may make to your diet while using the medication, you may still be at risk of vitamin deficiencies.
Talk with your doctor about how to monitor for and treat vitamin deficiencies while using Mounjaro.
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